DUBAI // Catherine Bellis, just six months into her professional career, gave an exciting glimpse into the future of women’s tennis, playing some electrifying shots to oust 2012 Dubai champion and No 4 seed Agnieszka Radwanska.
Bellis, who will celebrate her 18th birthday on April 8, belied her young age, matching the world No 6 stroke for stroke, which is no mean achievement given Radwanska’s shot-making abilities. And when the Pole cranked up the pressure after winning the second set, the American refused to wilt and instead raced through for a 6-4, 2-6, 6-2 win.
“I think in the second set she started playing a little bit better and I went off a little bit,” said Bellis, who turned professional two weeks after reaching the third round of the US Open last year.
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■ Day 4: Angelique Kerber cruises past Monica Puig and into semi-finals
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“I think I was going for a little bit too much. So I just told myself stay calm and go back to my game and what I was doing in the first set.”
This is Bellis’s first win over a top-10 player and it comes in her first main draw appearance of 2017.
The world No 70 started her season in Doha last week after missing the first six weeks of the season due to a strained hamstring, but failed to qualify for the main draw.
In Dubai this week, however, she has looked a million dollars and showed just why she is considered the future of women’s tennis, hitting 24 winners to Radwanska’s 17.
“It’s definitely the biggest win of my career, and probably one of the best days of my life,” said Bellis, who beat Dominika Cibulkova, the world No 12 at the time, in the opening round of the 2014 US Open.
“I’m really just enjoying it more, just thinking about how much fun I’m having and what an experience it’s been for me so far,” Bellis said, unable to conceal her joy.
“I have had kind of a dream couple of months since I have turned pro, but obviously it’s not always going to be as happy-go-lucky, so I have been really lucky so far.”
RESULTS
Singles third round:
■ C Bellis (USA) beat [4] A Radwanska (POL) 6-4, 2-6, 6-2
■ [1] A Kerber (GER) beat M Puig (PUR) 6-2, 6-3
■ [7] E Svitolina (UKR) beat C McHale (USA) 4-6, 6-4, 6-3
■ L Davis (USA) beat E Makarova (RUS) 4-6, 6-1, 6-3
■ Q Wang (CHN) beat K Mladenovic (FRA) 6-1, 6-4
■ A Konjuh (CRO) beat [8] E Vesnina (RUS) 3-6, 6-4, 7-6(4)
■ A Sevastova (LAT) beat S Peng (CHN) 6-4, 6-3
ORDER OF PLAY
Centre Court (start 2pm)
■ A Sevastova (LAT) vs Q Wang (CHN)
■ [7] E Svitolina (UKR) vs L Davis (USA)
Not Before 7pm
■ C Bellis (USA) vs K Bondarenko (UKR) or [10] C Wozniacki (DEN) vs
■ [1] A Kerber (GER) vs A Konjuh (CRO)
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The Emirates Charity Portal
You can donate to several registered charities through a “donation catalogue”. The use of the donation is quite specific, such as buying a fan for a poor family in Niger for Dh130.
The General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments
The site has an e-donation service accepting debit card, credit card or e-Dirham, an electronic payment tool developed by the Ministry of Finance and First Abu Dhabi Bank.
Al Noor Special Needs Centre
You can donate online or order Smiles n’ Stuff products handcrafted by Al Noor students. The centre publishes a wish list of extras needed, starting at Dh500.
Beit Al Khair Society
Beit Al Khair Society has the motto “From – and to – the UAE,” with donations going towards the neediest in the country. Its website has a list of physical donation sites, but people can also contribute money by SMS, bank transfer and through the hotline 800-22554.
Dar Al Ber Society
Dar Al Ber Society, which has charity projects in 39 countries, accept cash payments, money transfers or SMS donations. Its donation hotline is 800-79.
Dubai Cares
Dubai Cares provides several options for individuals and companies to donate, including online, through banks, at retail outlets, via phone and by purchasing Dubai Cares branded merchandise. It is currently running a campaign called Bookings 2030, which allows people to help change the future of six underprivileged children and young people.
Emirates Airline Foundation
Those who travel on Emirates have undoubtedly seen the little donation envelopes in the seat pockets. But the foundation also accepts donations online and in the form of Skywards Miles. Donated miles are used to sponsor travel for doctors, surgeons, engineers and other professionals volunteering on humanitarian missions around the world.
Emirates Red Crescent
On the Emirates Red Crescent website you can choose between 35 different purposes for your donation, such as providing food for fasters, supporting debtors and contributing to a refugee women fund. It also has a list of bank accounts for each donation type.
Gulf for Good
Gulf for Good raises funds for partner charity projects through challenges, like climbing Kilimanjaro and cycling through Thailand. This year’s projects are in partnership with Street Child Nepal, Larchfield Kids, the Foundation for African Empowerment and SOS Children's Villages. Since 2001, the organisation has raised more than $3.5 million (Dh12.8m) in support of over 50 children’s charities.
Noor Dubai Foundation
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Noor Dubai Foundation a decade ago with the aim of eliminating all forms of preventable blindness globally. You can donate Dh50 to support mobile eye camps by texting the word “Noor” to 4565 (Etisalat) or 4849 (du).
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